Roll-holding camera



(No Mean.) 2 sneetsf-'sheet 1.

N. CRANE.

(No Moaex.) -v 2 sheets-'ehm 2.

N. CRANE.

ROLL HOLDING GAMERA. I No. 567 97. Y Patented Sept. 8, 1896.

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' f y d! `L d1 t a t l f l 5f g CZ/ i mmgggp.; ,tu T C Illuuu d Jf 216' UNITED l STATES PATENT OEEICE.

NEWTON CRANE, OEY NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOE OF ONE-HALE To LOUIS E. LINCOLN, or BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROLL-HOLDING CAM ERA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,297, dated September 8, 1896. Application iilcfl December l2, 18.95. Serial No. 571,917. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.:

Beit known that LNEWTON CRANE,of Newton, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Canieras, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters and figures on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to cameras of that kind wherein a film-roll is used; and it has for its object to construct a camera that can be collapsed or closed'up into small space and compact form,so as to be carried in the pocket, and yet when expanded or drawn out Into working position is adapted to present a large portion of the iilm for exposure, in Order that a good-sized picture can be taken.

ln accordance with this invention, a box or case made rectangular or other suitable shape, and quite thin, has a lens at one end, and said box or case is made of separable parts which are connected by means of a bellows-folded portion in contradistinction to an accordionfolded portion, thereby making alight-tight bellows-folded box or case that can be collapsed and its thickness thereby reduced to the minimum, and can bedrawn out or expanded into working position, in which position its sides converge toward that end of the box or case containing the lens.

The lens is supported obliquely'to the end wall, so that when the parts of the box or case are separated, as, for instance, when it is expanded into working position, said lens will occupy a plane at right angles to a radial line passing midway between the converging side walls. A frame is contained in said box or case which supports the film-roll, windingroll, and guide-rolls, and said frame is hinged or pivotally connected to one wall or side of said box or case at one end, and Ineans are provided for swinging it on its pivotal con nections when the box or case is drawn oui or expanded, to thus bring it into a posi-A tion whereby the exposed portion of the film lies in the focal plane of the lens. It is preferable that this (ihn-supporting frame shall be moved into the focal plane of the lens automatically, and as it is pivotally connected to one side wall it may be connected with the other side wall in such a manner and by such In addition to several broad features which are comprised in this invention, as above briefly referred to, my invention also consists in many details of Construction, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Figure l shows in plan view a camera embodying this invention, the top piece being removed to expose the interior of the camera Fig. 2, a similar view showing the camera expanded into working position; Fig. 3, a side view of the camera shown in Fig. l, one side wall being removed; Fig. 4c, a side view of the film-supporting frame and pivoted side wall to which it is attached Fig. 5, a detail of the film-roll; Fig. 6, a detail showing the frictional connection of the driving-gear with the take-up roll; Fig. 7, a detail of the graduated winding-key for the measuring-roll, and Fig. 8 a detail of the clasp to be referred to.

The box or oase,of rectangular or other snitable shape, consists of a top piece a and abottom piece a, of corresponding shape and size, a frontend wall a2 and a rear-end wall a3, of corresponding shape and size, a side piece d4, which is hinged or otherwise connected with the front-end wall or to the front end of the box or case so as to open and close, said side piece being of suitable shape and size to cover or inclose one side of the box or case, and a side piece at the opposite side of said box or oase, which is herein represented as made in two parts, one of which parts, as a5, is stationarily secured to the other parts of the box or case at the front end, and the other part a of which is hin ged to the rear end ofthe aforesaid part a5 to Swingin and out or toward and from the box or case as a door.

The hinged side piece o4 is connected at the sides and rear end with the adjacent parts of the box or case by a bellows-folded portion a7, so that a light-tight box or case is produced, which consists essentially of two parts connected by a bellows-folded portion in con- IOO tradistinction to an accordion-folded portion, which is usually employed in cameras. Such a bellows-folded box or case maybe expanded at one end only, and when in its expanded condition the broad side walls of the box converge toward each other.

In lieu of providing metallic hinges for the parts a" c, I preferably employ the leather covering as a hinge.

The lens b is set or supported obliquely in the end wall a2, its Obliquity being such that it occupies a plane at right angles to a radial line passing midway between the broad side walls when the box or case is expanded or brought into working position.

The linder c is of usual construction, but its lens is supported obliquely in the end wall a2 in a plane parallel with the lens b.

Projecting from the interior side or face of the hinged or pivotally-connected side wall a are two ears (l, they being arranged at or near the rear end of said wall, and a flat plate (Z,of rectangular shape, is pivotally connected to said ears.

The plate d has at one side a vertical side piece d2, and at its opposite side a pivoted side piece d3, they being arranged parallel and affording bearings for the film-roll d* and take-up roll d5.

The plate d' has ears (ZG at its inner end or that end opposite its pivotal connections, which afford bearings for a guide-roll df", the periphery of which projects just below the exposed or under side of said plate.

The plate d is provided at its outer end with ears clwhich afford bearings for a guideroll c, which, like the guide-roll (Z7, projects just a little beyond the exposed or under side of the plate d, and, as in ordinary iilrmsupports, the film is taken from the ilmnroll, carried around the guide-roll (Il, across the under side of the plate (W, around the guide-roll d, and thence around the take-up roll di. The shaft or journals of the guide-roll di have their bearings in the ears d and serve as pivots for the film-supporting frame. This filinsupporting frame is thus adapted to swing on the axis upon which the guide-roll d revolves. The hlm-supporting frame comprises a plate having guide-rolls at the ends over which the film passes, and which is constructed and arranged to receive and hold the film-roll and take-up or winding roll. The roll (Z9 is also designed to serve as the measuring-roll, and has a key or thumb-piece e10 attached to or adapted to engage one end of its shaft, by means of which it maybe rotated. A toothed gear f is secured to the shaft of the guide-roll d, which engages a pinion f', journaled in the side piece d2, and said pinion engages a pinion f2, likewise journaled in the side piece (Z2, and said latter pinion f2 engages a toothed gear f3, frictionally secured to the shaft of the take-up roll (Z5. This frietional'connection may be made by slitting the shaft of the take-up roll d, as shown in Fig. G, slightly ex panding it, and then compressing said shaft to receive the gear j, By means oi' this gearing the take-up roll is rotated, and as the film wound thereon graduallyincreases the size of the roll the. slip is utilized. A pawl f" is held pressed into engagement with the gear f3 to prevent its backward motion.

To measure the film or draw oil. the {ilmroll enough film for a new exposure, the measuring-roll di may have fixed to it a graduated plate g, (see Fig. 7,) which may have, say, twelve graduations, and on the top ot' the box or ease a fixed point 50 is erected, with which said graduated plate cooperates as the measuring-roll is turned, and by turning said measuring-roll one and eleven-twelfths revolutions each time a definite amount of film will be drawn off of the film-roll, and also the number of exposures indicated.

The iIilm-roll d'L is frictionally connected with its shaft, and to accomplish this result I have provided its shaft with a tranversc slit (see Fig. extending for a suitable distance along the middle portion thereof, which permits the shaft to be expanded diametricall y along said portion and thereby frictionally hold the iilm-roll, restraining .it from too free rotation.

The swinging or pivoted film-supporting fra-me moves into and out of the focal plane ot' the lens b and has two positions, one being in parallelism with the side wall to which it is attached when the box or case is collapsed, and the other in the focal plane of the leus when the box or case expanded. To thus move or swing the iilm'supporting frame automatically into the focal plane of the lens when the box or case is expanded, I have attached to the side piece (Z2 at 2, by means of a clasp, a cord n, which passes through an eye secured to the end wall or other part of the box or case, and its end is attached to an eye et secured to the side wall a, and as the parts of the box or case are separated or expanded this cord will be drawn andthe film-supporting frame thereby swung on its pivotal connections into the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein it will be observed that it lies in the focal plane of the lens l1.

To hold the hlm-supporting frame in such position, a locking device is provided, which is herein shown as a prop e pivoted to the side piece (Z2, and a spring e attached at one end to the box or case and at the other end to a projection c2 on said prop, the tendency of which is to turn the prop on its pivot as the film-supporting frame is swung into the focal plane of the lens.

A recess 'n1 is formed in the side wall u of the box or case near the pivotal connection.

of the .film-supperting frame, into which the prop c drops when the iilm-supporting frame is swung way out to its full extent, and the prop is thus held as against a stop. lhe recess m in the side wall a is preii'erably made as a hole through said side wall, the outer IOO IOS

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end of which is made larger than the inner end, and this hole is concealed by the leather covering.

A headed stud m is placed in the recess m, the head of which is at the lower end of the recess, and said stud is held in place by the leather covering on the side wall which conceals it. The stud m is made shorter than the hole, so as to move freely therein, thereby permitting the end of the prop e to enter the recess and become caught and held; but by pressing upon the covering over the y stud said stud will be moved and the prop e pushed out of engagement with the edge of the recess. When the prop is thus disengaged, the spring e restores the film-supporting frame, permitting the box or case to be collapsed. Thus the spring e, in addition to controlling the action or movement of the prop c, also serves as a return-spring for the film-supportingy frame.

When the film-supporting frame is swung out into the focal plane of the lens, as represented in Fig. 2, it will be seen that it holds the parts of the box or case separated, and no special locking device is necessary for this purpose.

To mark the film between exposures, perforating-points 5 are provided, projecting from the stationary wall a5 in a line close to the swinging plate or wall a6, and the lmsupport is made long enough or is so supported that when the box or case is collapsed the guide-roll C17, around which the iilm passes, overlies these perforating-points, and by certain pressure they puncture the iilm whenever the box or case is closed.

In order that the perforating-points 5 may better puncture the lm, the roll Z7 may have several circumferential grooves d20 opposite the perforating-points. v

In order to obtain the required pressure to cause the perforating-points to puncture the iilm, I have herein shown a strip w attached to the interior of the part d4, which as the box or case .is collapsed strikes or bears upon the roll d4 and forcibly presses it down.

Of course if the ends of the roll d4 should be made large enough, or the box thin enough, thisstrip w could be omitted, the part a4 directly engaging the roll.

The perforating points when in engagement with the film also hold the film from moving or being moved along, to prevent winding off the film; but when the box or case is expanded and the iilm-support swung into the focal plane of the lens the iilm is free to be moved along.

A plate or lid o is secured to a spring-actuated rock-shaft o', which turns in bearings in the box or case, said lid being designed to close the inner end of the lens-tube when the box or case is closed, and to accomplish this result I have secured to the movable wall a4 a stud o2, having a pin 03,. which passes beneath a curved portion of the lid near its porting frame may be turned down when it is desired to remove the iilm and take-up rolls, it becoming detached from the shafts of said rolls when so moved.

It will be seen that as the' cord 'n is connected to the swinging film-supporting frame by a suitable clasp, as n', (see Fig. 8,) it may be easily detached in order that the part a6 may be swung out, as a door, to expose the film-supporting frame which is attached to the interior thereof. This is essential for the purposes of reloading.

By providing an inner shutter for the lenstube, which is closed when the box is closed and opened only when the box is expanded, it

will be seen that if the usual outside shutter to2 y should be accidentally operated when the box is closed, the light is not admitted. In this form of cameras such an inside shutter is very important.

1. In a camera, a box or case made of separable parts connected by a bellows-folded portion, a lens at one end of the box or case, and a film-supporting frame having guide-rollers, and constructed and arranged to support the film and winding rolls, said frame being contained in said box or case and movable into and vout of the focal plane of the lens, operated by the expanding and contracting of the parts of said box or case, substantially as described.

2. In a camera, a box or case made of separable parts connected by a bellows-folded portion, a lens arranged obliquely at one end of the box or case, and a film-supporting frame having guide-rollers, and constructed and arranged to support the film and winding rolls, said frame being contained in said box or case and movable into and out of the focal planeof the lens, operated by the expanding and contracting of the parts of said box, or case, substantially as described.

i3. In a camera, a box or case made of separable parts connected by a bellows-folded portion, a lens arranged obliquely at one end of the box or case, and a film-supporting frame having guide-rollers, and constructed and arranged to support the iilm and winding rolls, said frame being contained in said box or case movable into and out of the focal plane of the lens, operated by the expanding and contracting of the parts of said box or case, and a locking device for locking said iilmsupporting frame in the focal plane of the lens, substantially as described. A

4:. In a camera, a box or case made of sepa- IOO IIO

rable parts connected by a bellows-:folded portion, a lens arranged obliquely at one end of the box or ease, and a iiln'i-supporting l'rame having guide-rollers, and constructed and arranged to support the film and winding rolls, said frame being contained in said box or case movable into and out of the focal plane ol the lens, and a locking device ttor locking said nlm-supporting frame in the vfocal plane oit the lens, and a releasing device tor said kicking device, substantially as described.

5. In a camera, a box or case made ol' separable parts which are connected by a bellowsfolded portion, a lens at one end, and a lilmsupporting frame having guide-rollers, and constructed and arranged to support the film and winding rolls, said trame being contained in said box or case and movable from a plane in parallelism with one side of the box or case into the focal plane of the lens, operated by the expanding of the parts of said box or case, substantially as described.

(5. In a camera, a' two-part box or case, the parts of which are connected by a bellows- Yl'olded portion, a lens arranged obliquely at one end of one part, and a film-supporting frame, substantially as described, pivotally connected to said part, and means for moving it automatically into the focal plane of the lens operated by the expanding of the parts ot said box or case, substantially as described.

7. In a camera, a box or case composed oit' separable part-s, connected by a bellows-folded portion, a lens at one end of the box or ease, a film-supporting frame substantially as described pivoted to one part of the box or case, and means connected with the other part of said box or case ioir moving it on its pivot into the focal plane ol' the lens operated by the cxpanding of the parts of said box or case, substantially as described.

S. In a camera, a twopart box or case hinged together at one end and connected by a bellows-folded portion, a lens at the hinged end ol' said box or ease arranged obliquely, a iihnsupporting frame substantially as described pivoted to one part of said box or case and movable into and out oi the loca-l plane of the lens, and means for moving it connected with the other part of said box or case operated by the opening and closing of the same, substantially as described.

9. In a camera, a two-part box or case hinged together at one end and connected by a bellows-folded portion, a lens at the hinged end of said box or case arranged obliquel y, a lilmsupporting `trame substantially as described pivoted to one part of said box or ease and movable into and out of the focal plane oli' the lens, and means for moving it connected with and operated by the other part, and a locking device for said film supporting frame for holding it in the focal plane ot the lens, substantially as described.

10. In a camera, a two-part box or case hinged together at one end and connected by a bellmvs-ilolded portion, a lens at the hinged end of said box or case arranged obliqnel y, a V[illnsupporting franie substantially as described pivoted to one part ol said box or case and movable into and out oit the focal plane olf the lens, and means for moving it connected with and operated by the other part, and a locking device for saidIilm-supporting i'rame lorholding it in the focal plane of the lcns,and a releasing device 'l'or said locking device adapted to be operated from the exterior ot' the box or case, substantially as described.

Il. In a camera, a bellows-'folded box or case having a lens at one end, a swinging lilmsupporting trame contained in said box or case, adetachable cord connecting said lilmsupport with a moving part of said box or case, whereby the said iilm-supporting l.' rame is moved into the li'oeal plane ot' the lens as the box or case is expanded, substantially as described.

12. In a camera, a bellows-[folded box or case having a lens at one end, a swinging [ihnsupporting frame contained in said box or case, means for moving said iilIn-supportin g frame into the :focal plane ot' the lens, a return-spring t'or said Yfilm-support, a prop for holding the nlm-supporting iframe in the focal plane oit the lens when in engagement with a stop,said return-sprin g being attached to said prop to thereby also serve as a controlling device for it, substantially as described.

13. In a came a, a bellows-folded box or case having a lens at one end, a swinging lihnsupporting i'ralne contained in. said box or case, and means lor moving said hlm-supportingirame into the focal plane ol the lens operated by the expanding ot' the said box or case, said frame when in such position holding the box or case expanded, substantially as described.

ll. In a camera,a separable box or case connected by a bellows-folded portieri, a lens at one end, and a {ihn-supporting i'rame con tained in said box or case movable into and out of the focal plane ot' the lens, and mark.- ing devices for marking the lilm between exposures brought into action upon elosin g the box or case, substantially as described.

15. In a camera, a separable box or case connected by a bellows-folded portion, a lens at one end, and a nlm-supporting frame contained in said box or ease, movable into and out of the focal plane of the lens, and pcri'orating-pins for perforating the film and holding it when the box or case is closed, substantially as described.

'l0'. In a camera, a box crease made ol' separable parts connected by a bellows-folded portion, and having a side wall (1."opcningou1- ward, a lens at one end of the box or case, and a film-supporting frame attached to the interior of said side wall a lwhich is movable into and out of the focal plane oli' the lens, su l stantially as described.

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tion, to thereby form a friction device for the Io roll, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

NEWTON CRANE.

Witnesses:

B. J. NoYEs, F. I-I. DAVIS. 

